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said MacDonald.Whether the students have special needs, Mil our students get one-to-one tutoring, and that is not the case with other local programs,” said Strand.This mix of enthusiastic students and committed volunteers has created opportunities for an often overlooked part of the York community. With summer and fall sessions planned, Strand hopes that more people in need of this service will come to class and achieve the same successes that the current group of students experienced.For an eye-opening look at what it is like to come to York through the eyes of a recent immigrant, read the firsthand accounts by the ESL class located at the Web site www.yorkschools.org/adulted/esol/ YorkESOLhome. html.The ESL summer cooking class will run for six weeks beginningJuly 18, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., and is open to any ESL student, intermediate level or above. The offices of York Adult Ed. can be reached at 363-7922 for information aboutthis or any class at York's Adult Ed. program.By Audrey Boardmanyorkweekly@seacoastonline.com•*What comes around, goesaround.Sitting around a large table in York Adult Education's English as a Second Language (ESL) class, the conversation is lively and animated. While side conversations in Chinese and Spanish can be heard, most of the talk is in English. To an observer, the situation resembles a lunch meeting between close friends rather than a gathering of teachers and students.While the conversation touchedon many topics, the class' new Web site was foremost on everyone'smind. The semester-long ESL class culminated in last Tuesday's party, celebrating the completion of the group's Web site. It was the first time that Adult Ed. had paired English instruction with Web design or anv other interdisciplinary studv.¥ X ¥ ¥Judging from the students' enthusiasm, newfound computer knowledge, and English skills, the program w as a complete success.ESL teacher Deanna St rami praised this approach that gave the group a “focused goal ami a lot of energy.”ago she had trouble communicating even basic needs.The first time 1 came here (to the class), I only knew hello, but now I can talk to people,” she said. When MacDonald first arrived in the United States with her American husband, she frequented Greenleaves Chinese restaurant in York to get the taste and feel of home.It was there where she met fellow student Andy Wang, another Chinese immigrant and cook at Greenleaves. who told Annie about the ESL program offered throughAdult Ed. The skills she has learned in the class have changed the way MacDonald lives her life in America. Hannaford now employs her at their deli.These stories and others make up a little-known side of Southern Maine.“There are little ESL programs in many towns who serve these (immigrant) communities frombehind the scenes. said Strand who has been working with the York ESL program for the past twovears.Classes are successful for manv¥reasons. There are hardworking volunteers w ho take their time to educate members of their owncommunity. There are teachers who¥assign students tutors who can work best with them. And there is the most important element: the students who attend class and tutoring sessions for hours each week while working and raising families.“Many people who come here put many hours in at work and then try’ their best to come to tutoring. said tutor Linda Soutiere.The hard work shows in theskills of all of the students who have gained a new command of English and are now slated to give back bv teaching other residents about their language and culture.Rachel Chen, an ESL student from Taiwan currently residing in York, is tutoring York High School graduating senior Diana Sweet, who is planning to live in Taiwan next year. Chen also plays an important part in volunteering toteach the other students about the intricacies of the computer equipment.who navigated the Web and answered everybody’s questions about the computer.Chen is not the only student who is able to change roles and become the teacher. Coming this fall. Adult Ed. is hoping to offer ethnic cooking classes in Chinese and Dominican cooking, taught by members of the ESL class.Over the summer, though, the students will be learning about American cooking. Adult Ed. is offering an ESL-based summer session on American cooking. Just as with the Web design class, the cooking class will integrate the know ledge of a specialized field with instruction in English grammar and vocabulary.While the general classes are open to all and help improve general English skills. Adult Ed. tutors many students outside of the class who cannot make it to class owing to work demands, or who want more specialized instruction.For example, Andy Wang meets with tutor Jean Tucker at St. George's Episcopal Church on a regular basis because he is unableThe YorkEasing the transition for new AmencansAdult Ed. classes ..There£lemof *!»,n offer friendshipan(J ODDOrtlinitV room Wl1^ ^er uP^caI personalityIT 1 J nn/l fiinnv/ ctnr ii»c It is. har/lBefore that. Adult Ed's director.Polly Stanwood. changed ESLfrom what volunteer Carol Davis recalls as an unstructured programin which “chance matches were and funny stories. It is hard to made if somebody came throughbelieve that a little more than a year the door. to a successful program, constructed Web site, it was Chenthe room last Tuesday, as studentAnnie MacDonald, a recent imrni-!grant from China, lighted up the“Rachel is the unofficial Web to make the regular class meetings,master,” said Soutiere. “She is our He found Tucker though Strandcomputer whiz and she has bailed and the Adult Ed. program,me out on the computer more thanone time.”Deanna always finds tutors and students who can work together,”Strawberry Festival returns to South Berwick on June 29hftllth \rl U ill its. ^”Tlh_'innil*»l h«»rr\ *in/l h'ir'L itnvimiL /xt ( lt;xntr*»l V2/'hr\lt;xl Vixn II tm/l KoiL-otk Inn W/allz c hi/ th/» Qrtnth D D t»/rnatir\n r^nnnrt
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York Weekly
York, Maine, US
Wed, Jun 12, 2002
Page 14
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ME, USA 28 Nov 2021
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